THIRD TIME LUCKY? 
I sure hope so, because today's race results were pretty naff to say the least - a seventh for Lourdes No Hitomi, which probably wasn't far off expectations, but a seriously disappointing tenth for Miracle Rouge. She finished way off the pace having started sixth favourite.

According to the jockey, Lourdes No Hitomi still hasn't matured as a racehorse yet, either mentally or physically, but she's not a bad horse according to the guy in the saddle, so there is still hope there. With Miracle Rouge, she was running well until the third turn, and then there was a strange lack of response when asked to pick up the pace. All we can do is keep our fingers crossed that she was just having an off-day (springtime?), and that Mosto Verde does better in his debut tomorrow...

BUSY WEEKEND OF RACING 

Courtesy Carrot Club

As we thought, Lourdes No Hitomi is going to run, on Saturday as it happens, with Ebina-san assigned as jockey for the first 1800m dirt race at Nakayama. Genki Murayama is still down to ride Miracle Rouge on the same day, but I'm not entirely sure
he'll be fit to race.

On Sunday, Takayuki Kato gives
Mosto Verde (pictured here) his first outing, and Seiji Yamazaki rides Fairy Robe at Kawasaki on the 19th in a 1400m NAR dirt race (the meeting's 2R) - looking forward to that. A couple of days later, Quadrille and Tenshinramman are out, with 'Kacchi' on the latter, trying to guide her to the big time. Suddenly, it's all happening...

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT - HOPEFULLY! 
After an early finish at school today - it was Louis' Junior High (or Secondary) school induction ceremony - everyone grabbed something to eat and then made the most of the extra saddle time. With 'Jaguar' taking a well-earned break, Sophie rode Machikane Ukon (her debut on this big fella), and Louis did some jumping with Heart, stringing seven jumps together for the afternoon's training.

It has to be said that after the awful weather of the last few days, it was really nice to get out and play with the horses with some sun on your back without sand coming at you from all directions. With luck, Louis will compete in both Dressage and show-jumping events later in the month, while Sophie is set to make her Dressage debut any minute...

SHADAI/SUNDAY HORSE UPDATE 
Mostly routine reports on the Shadai Group front, with the Pop Label scenario holding the most interest at this stage. This really is a muscle-bound colt, already tipping the scales at 506kg, and an early debut is in prospect by all accounts. Meanwhile, Beat The Boarder is calming down nicely, but definitely remains on the cute side compared to the half-ton monster we mentioned first.

It's fascinating to compare the training programmes of Shadai TC, Sunday TC and Carrot Club horses, with a definite gap in policy being visible. I think I can safely say that the Carrot Club ones have an easier schedule, being allowed to develop at a slower pace, while the Shadai Group horses are schooled in a more intensive manner that will recoup investment as soon as possible. All very interesting...

MICK CHANNON 

Courtesy Sportsignings.com

As kids, we all grow up with our sporting heroes. I was mad on soccer as a young boy, although something seemed to change in the sport by the start of the 1980s - the influx of too much money, maybe - and I slowly drifted away from it. But for well over a decade, like so many lads of my generation, I was football crazy. As such, a lot of my sporting heroes were footballers in my younger days, including a big chap called Mick Channon. What's this got to do with Turf, Dirt & Thoroughbreds, I hear you say? Well, it just so happens that Mick turned his hand to horse racing after his football career...

Born in November 1948, Mick made no less than 46 appearances for England, scoring 21 goals, and he was always making the headlines in club soccer, most memorably with Southampton as I remember. As soon as his career as a footballer came to an end, he became an Assistant Trainer, and quickly secured his licence as a fully-fledged trainer, saddling his first runners in 1989.

Courtesy West Ilsley Stables

Starting small, he soon built up an impressive stable, and bought the historically significant West Ilsley Stables in 1999. Since then, Mick has consistently produced a string of top flat runners, such as Queen's Logic, Zafeen, Nahoodh, Music Show and Youmzain. He now trains over 100 two-year olds each year, and manages to clock up a similar number of wins in each season. 

Mick has gone from being a hero on the football field to an amiable hero in the 'Sport of Kings'. There's a campaign going to have him Knighted - right now, it's hard to think of anyone more deserving of the honour.